Pneumatic tire.



O. K. HOPPES.

PNEUMATIC TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, 1913,

LMWAEQ; Patented 001127, 1914.

ODILLON K. HOPIE'ES, 0F TAMAQUA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PNEUMATIC'TIBE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Mars. 5, 1918.. Serial no. #152,143. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, OnrLLoN K. HOPPES, citizen of the United States, residing at Tamaqua, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newprovide'a pneumatic tire formed in sectionswhich are independently 1nflatable,"the sec- I tions being so arranged that one section may be removed without disturbing the adjacent sections.

A. further object of the invention is to provide the tire sections with interlocking means formed ofrubber, whereby the sections may be quickly and conveniently brought into interlocking relation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sectional pneumatic tire in which each section will be independently protected from punctures and blowouts.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal. section; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of one of the tire sections; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the other end; Fig. 4 is a transverse section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

Broadly the invention contemplates the provision of a pneumatic tire formed of separate inflatable sections, and While the construction is intended for use with an inner curvature of the telly. he sections are providedwith the base portion=18 which is formed with ribs 14, these ribs being engaged by any suitable demountable rim. The end walls 15 of the sections are provided with a substantially rectangular projectlon 16 which is'disposed centrally of the end wall; A lip or rib 17 rojects from the end wail and partially encircles the projection 16. This rib 17 tapers from its central portion 18 to its terminals 19. The opposite end Wall 20 of each section is formed with a substantially rectangular recess 21 which conforms to the shape of the projection 16, and a curved groove 22 which conforms to the lip 17. Thus, it will be noted that each section is formed with what may be termed a male and female end. When the sections are assembled, the rojection 16 and the lip 17 of one section wi 1 be received by the recess 21 and the groove 22 of the adjacent section, the sectlons interlocking and being effectually held against displacement.

When one of the sections has been punctured or in any way damaged and is deflated, it.will be noted that this deflated section may be removed without disturbing the adjacent sections and readily replaced, the new section which is added being inserted in a deflated condition and inflated after it 1 inner casing, as illustrated at 23 in Fig. 1,

each section is also provided with a valve 24 extending through the section and the felly, the sections when assembled being inflated in the same manner as when the air is forced directly into the casing. In this construction, the valves maybe removed through the felly and the sections readily interchanged. Where the air is forced directly into the casing, each section is-provided at one side with a valve 25, the sections being inflated through said valve.

The sections are preferably provided with the armor 26 formed of wire mesh, there being a layer of asbestos orother suitable material 27 on each side of the fabric which will prevent heating and destruction of the rubber of which the section is formed.

' Patented Oct.27,1914.

While this constructionpof armor hasgbeen' illustrated, any form may be used 0r-.:the'

sections formed Without armors. While the valves 24 are shown as extending through the rim',"'it will be noted that they may extend through the side came casing as in the form shown in Fig. 3.5

The many advantages of a. construction of this character will be clearly apparent, as it will be noted that when any-section-of the tire is damaged it may be readily removed constructions.

l-Iavin thu's'described.jiiyvinvention,wh t.

I claim asnew and desire to secure Let ters Patentis:

A tire formed of avplurality of sections, each sectional; one end being provided with a projection substantially rectan lar in cross sectiom' fand "a substantia ysemi- 'circularf 'ribi partially embracing said projection, sai d rib tapering in'height from its centralfportion to its terminals, the'other -"end. of eaeh section being formed With a 'centraLfrecess "and; a semi-circular groove 'taiperingjndwth mma1s.

partially embracinfisaid 1recess,said groove omits center-*to its terinx-presencetof two witnesses. 5 i aqnws e11mm; are? Witnesses:v 1 v Enwm FQLKRA Qm-r v 

